Review of Brief Encounters, Gregory Crewdson Documentary

Last night I was fortunate enough to catch Brief Encounters, the new documentary about Gregory Crewdson. Many of you may be familiar with his work, and may have even read our previous article on his production process. Crewdson operates on an extremely large scale, using a film production crew to execute his large-format photographs. He is known for completely shutting down small towns and waiting days to get a single image, which are then printed four by five feet, in editions of 10 and sold for a price tag upwards of $100,000 each.

Ever since I was shown his work by my Intro to Photography professor in 2001, Crewdson has been my absolute favorite photographer. Each one of his photos are like a movie in and of themselves. Every single scenario that he chooses to show the viewer- an empty street at dusk, still wet from the rain- is intentional. Each image was so meticulously constructed that there is no other explanation than that he wants the viewer to see it. There is no denying his vision when viewing his images. However, many photographers argue that Crewdson is more of a director than a photographer. He doesn't set up the lights, stand behind a camera or even trigger the shutter.

The documentary compiles videos and images from over fifteen years of behind-the-scenes footage. The viewer gets an inside view of everything from location scouting and casting to post-production and printing. Crewdson spent four years in western Massachusetts shooting this latest series of work, Beneath the Roses. In the film, he confesses that he doesn't know why he is drawn to these small towns, but he keeps on returning. Crewdson's compulsion mirrors that of the film Close Encounters of the Third Kind, which he lists as a major influence in his work. In the film, characters find themselves drawn to Devil's Tower. These people, who have never even seen this mountain, find themselves constructing versions of it with their food or in their yards. This shared urge or emotion is inherent in Crewdson's images.

While I can't quite put it into words, I feel itwhen I look at his images. I am eight years old, alone on a summer night, filled with wonder and fear. I am fifteen and heartbroken, walking the streets after the rain. There is something so primal and nostalgic in his images that anyone who has grown up in America can relate to. Arguing about Crewdson's role, to me, seems like a moot point. I don't care what he calls himself. I just want him to continue to cater to his compulsions, because the result is nothing short of pure genius.